By Aaron Tomak
We’ve established that libraries are not going anywhere anytime soon. And we know that librarians are more useful than ever. So what about the ones using the library? Those we lovingly refer to as our ‘patrons’?
The current population of library patrons ranges from avid readers that could care less about computers to junior software engineers to people just getting into emailing. How will the library remain cater to these diverse groups?
Dr. Steve Matthews at the 21st Century Library Blog divided library users into three groups based on their understanding of and exposure to technology. These three categories are:
· The Digital Fugitive – Those with little to no exposure to technology and those catered to by the traditional library
· The Digital Immigrant – Those who grew up without technology but learned and integrated into their daily lives.
· The Digital Native – Those who grew up with technology and for whom it’s an everyday part of their lives.
This is a very diverse group and represents the shift that is occurring within the industry. With such varying expectations, how do we provide these groups with the services they need and desire from the library?
We do so by best understanding not only what each group wants but by also realizing what serves both the user of the library and the underlying philosophy of what a library is. Those most interested in the traditional library still want books on shelves, helpful and knowledgeable librarians, and a quiet atmosphere. And consider this essay by Glenn Remelts of Calvin College in which he states “…when using the tools found in the digital library, it will be difficult to ignore the traditional library, because so many of the records found in the digital library refer to traditional paper sources.” There is still a place for the traditional library in the digital era.
For those patrons that are caught between the pre-digital and the modern age, the library is acting as a place to introduce them to new technologies and methods of learning, working, and communicating. The newest generation of librarians comes fully equipped with first-hand knowledge of many new and emerging technologies and it is their goal to teach these patrons how to navigate the digital age.
Lastly, and perhaps the most difficult, is making the library relevant to a generation of patrons that have always had Google and Wikipedia to answer their questions. This group is the future users of the library and it is they that will instigate a change in the nature and function of the library. For this group, technology is an integral part of their lives. It is these users we need to best understand.
Libraries 2020: Imagining the library of the (not too distant) future
Although libraries have not always operated as user driven entities, their modern day relevance relies heavily on providing the right services to the patrons. After all, these are the folk that are paying the taxes, driving the services, and gaining the most from the libraries. It is and always will be our goal as librarians to help shape society through education and access to information.
View more presentations from Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project
This is a fascinating topic. You make an important point: we can define libraries by their users. And currently, library users are probably more diverse than ever.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that attracting the "digital natives" will be as difficult as some posit. Contrary to popular belief, people use the Internet for more than Google and Facebook, and have a larger appetite for credible information beyond the binary confines of Ask.com.
Local history collections, special collections, and even vast general collections will always have a place in communities. The bottom line is, most people would rather rent a DVD or a book than have to pay for it to only watch/read it a few times. That is the beauty of the library.
Great post - thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing an interesting and thought-provoking article. I agree that libraries can be defined by their users, and each individual person represents a unique / diverse patron with specific interests and needs. To stay relevant, there is a lot of talk about libraries becoming community centers - with video production areas, cafes, meeting spaces, etc. In one of the library visits I went on, the library was looking into a place within the library for people to record their own stories or personal family histories of loved ones. Another library I visited had large population groups who spoke foreign languages, so they provided collections and storytimes and foreign film showing events in those languages and also offered ESL programs and services. That particular community also had a patron group that highly emphasized and cared about quality education, so the library offered tutoring, homework help, and other services to patrons.
ReplyDeleteLibraries need to discern what their unique niche / role is in serving their local community to avoid duplicating services offered by other public organizations. Libraries may also consider how to partner with other existing public services to connect users to a wealth of resources within their community.
Norman (2012) mentions discussing the future of libraries with his sons:
"When I asked my 15 and 18 year old sons what future public libraries have--they said 'none'. They have books, the internet and gaming at home. They have a garage for their band practice. What would get them to go to a library? They said access to an audio recording suite, a media lab for editing videos to upload to YouTube, and film making classes and someone to teach them how to use all this technology. Are these new opportunities for public libraries? Having managed student audio and media labs, I know how expensive these environments are, both in terms of set up costs, annual maintenance and replacement costs, and expertise. If our community engagement indicates that this is what the community wants, then that is where we should be headed. Some may see these sorts of facilities and services belonging to an art gallery--and the local art gallery and library may both have stronger survival opportunities through partnering with each other. But, in the absence of a local gallery, will the library take up this opportunity to meet the needs of its community?"
Obviously, his sons represent two individuals with specific interests and values. Others, including myself, would feel differently about the future of libraries. But the main thing is that libraries need to continually survey their local communities and evaluate how to best serve those populations in relevant ways. Librarians need to keep learning how to change and adapt to best meet the needs of library users.
-Katie W.
"Three things will last forever - faith, hope, and love - and the greatest of these is love." -1 Corinthians 13:13
References:
Norman, Mark. "Frail, fatal, fundamental: the future of public libraries." Australasian Public Libraries and Information Services 25.2 (2012): 94+. Academic OneFile. Web. 3 July 2012.
Katie, you bring up a really good point about how libraries need or choose to adapt to their changing communities. I've recently become interested in how libraries are incorporating makerspaces (the Unquiet Librarian has some great ideas.) See, she's adapting her library space to meet the needs of her students.
ReplyDeleteAnother very neat example is this blog out of San Antonio. The teen librarians there have created this fantastic way for the teens/young adults in their community to be actual stakeholders in the library.
Like Katie said, surveying your users is the key to remaining relevant. I worked in a fairly low income neighborhood library. The main thing patrons were interested in was internet access. It was a very small place but there was always lots of people waiting for computers. A few miles away in a more affluent town, the main drive was community events (in addition to books and movies of course). In the future I think libraries will have to take this a step further and focuses on very specific needs as well as strongly advocate for proper budgets to meet these needs.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I mainly focused on age demographics in this post, I think once we're over this hump and to the point where everyone has some technological experience libraries will start to become more economically balanced in terms of access. This will be out of a basic need of any community.